yīngyǒujìnyǒu: 应有尽有 - To Have Everything, All-Inclusive
Quick Summary
- Keywords: ying you jin you, yīngyǒujìnyǒu, 应有尽有, Chinese idiom for everything, all-inclusive, comprehensive, have it all, Chinese chengyu, learn Chinese vocabulary, Chinese abundance
- Summary: Learn the common and powerful Chinese idiom (chengyu) 应有尽有 (yīngyǒujìnyǒu), which means “to have everything one could possibly need” or “all-inclusive.” This DokuWiki entry breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage in modern China, from describing a massive supermarket to a feature-rich smartphone. With 10 practical example sentences, this guide will help you master this essential term for describing completeness and abundance.
Core Meaning
- Pinyin (with tone marks): yīng yǒu jìn yǒu
- Part of Speech: Idiom (成语, chéngyǔ); Adjective
- HSK Level: HSK 6
- Concise Definition: To possess everything that should be there; all-encompassing and lacking nothing.
- In a Nutshell: Imagine walking into the world's largest department store, a massive online marketplace like Amazon, or a hotel buffet that seems to stretch for miles. The feeling that “they have everything you could possibly imagine” is perfectly captured by 应有尽有. It describes a place, collection, or selection that is impressively and completely stocked.
Character Breakdown
- 应 (yīng): Should; ought to; supposed to be.
- 有 (yǒu): To have; there is/are.
- 尽 (jìn): All; to the utmost; completely.
- 有 (yǒu): To have; there is/are.
The logic of the idiom is beautifully straightforward: 应有 (yīng yǒu) means “what one should have,” and 尽有 (jìn yǒu) means “all of it is had.” Put together, it literally translates to “What should be there, is all there.” This creates a powerful image of perfect, curated completeness.
Cultural Context and Significance
- The Ideal of Abundance: 应有尽有 taps into a universal desire for abundance and convenience, but it's expressed with the unique conciseness of a Chinese chengyu. In a culture that values providing for guests and family, having a selection that is 应有尽有 is a sign of good hosting, prosperity, and thoroughness. It's often used in commercial contexts to signal quality and a superior customer experience.
- Comparison to Western Concepts: In English, we might say a store is a “one-stop shop,” has “everything from soup to nuts,” or has “everything but the kitchen sink.” While similar in meaning, 应有尽有 carries a more elegant and formal weight. It's a standard, respected idiom, whereas “everything but the kitchen sink” is a colloquial and slightly humorous expression implying a chaotic jumble. 应有尽有 suggests a well-organized, comprehensive collection, not just a random pile of everything.
Practical Usage in Modern China
This idiom is extremely common in both spoken and written Chinese.
- Advertising and Commerce: This is its most frequent use. Supermarkets, online retailers (like Taobao or JD.com), restaurants, and hotels use it constantly in slogans to emphasize their vast selection of goods or services.
- Describing Places: You can use it to describe any place with a rich variety of items or facilities, such as a large library, a well-equipped gym, a bustling market, or a feature-packed resort.
- Describing Collections: It can describe anything from a museum's vast art collection to a software program's comprehensive set of features.
- Formality: It is a standard idiom that can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It adds a touch of sophistication compared to simply saying “东西很多 (dōngxi hěn duō)” - “there's a lot of stuff.”
Example Sentences
- Example 1:
- 这家超市太大了,从新鲜蔬菜到家用电器,真是应有尽有。
- Pinyin: Zhè jiā chāoshì tài dà le, cóng xīnxiān shūcài dào jiāyòng diànqì, zhēnshì yīngyǒujìnyǒu.
- English: This supermarket is so big; from fresh vegetables to home appliances, it really has everything you could possibly want.
- Analysis: A classic and very common example of using the term to describe the vast selection at a large store.
- Example 2:
- 酒店的自助早餐应有尽有,中式的、西式的,你想吃的都能找到。
- Pinyin: Jiǔdiàn de zìzhù zǎocān yīngyǒujìnyǒu, Zhōngshì de, Xīshì de, nǐ xiǎng chī de dōu néng zhǎodào.
- English: The hotel's breakfast buffet has it all; whether it's Chinese style or Western style, you can find anything you want to eat.
- Analysis: Perfect for describing a comprehensive food selection, like a buffet.
- Example 3:
- 淘宝网上的商品种类应有尽有,几乎没有你买不到的东西。
- Pinyin: Táobǎo wǎng shàng de shāngpǐn zhǒnglèi yīngyǒujìnyǒu, jīhū méiyǒu nǐ mǎi bu dào de dōngxi.
- English: The variety of products on Taobao is all-encompassing; there's almost nothing you can't buy.
- Analysis: This shows how the idiom is used to describe the massive inventory of an e-commerce platform.
- Example 4:
- 这个度假村的娱乐设施应有尽有,包括游泳池、健身房和电影院。
- Pinyin: Zhège dùjiàcūn de yúlè shèshī yīngyǒujìnyǒu, bāokuò yóuyǒngchí, jiànshēnfáng hé diànyǐngyuàn.
- English: This resort's recreational facilities have everything, including a swimming pool, a gym, and a movie theater.
- Analysis: Used here to describe the completeness of amenities at a location.
- Example 5:
- 他书房里的藏书应有尽有,从古典文学到现代科幻,什么都有。
- Pinyin: Tā shūfáng lǐ de cángshū yīngyǒujìnyǒu, cóng gǔdiǎn wénxué dào xiàndài kēhuàn, shénme dōu yǒu.
- English: The book collection in his study has it all, from classical literature to modern science fiction, there's everything.
- Analysis: Demonstrates its use for describing a personal collection.
- Example 6:
- 这款新手机的功能简直应有尽有,拍照、支付、导航,样样精通。
- Pinyin: Zhè kuǎn xīn shǒujī de gōngnéng jiǎnzhí yīngyǒujìnyǒu, pāizhào, zhīfù, dǎoháng, yàng yàng jīngtōng.
- English: The functions of this new phone are simply all-encompassing; photography, payment, navigation, it's an expert at everything.
- Analysis: A modern application, referring to the features of a tech product.
- Example 7:
- 潘家园市场上的古玩应有尽有,但你需要一双慧眼来辨别真假。
- Pinyin: Pānjiāyuán shìchǎng shàng de gǔwán yīngyǒujìnyǒu, dàn nǐ xūyào yī shuāng huìyǎn lái biànbié zhēn jiǎ.
- English: The antiques at the Panjiayuan market are all-encompassing, but you need a discerning eye to tell the real from the fake.
- Analysis: Here, it describes a wide variety of goods in a market setting.
- Example 8:
- 这份报告里包含的数据应有尽有,为我们的决策提供了充分的依据。
- Pinyin: Zhè fèn bàogào lǐ bāohán de shùjù yīngyǒujìnyǒu, wèi wǒmen de juécè tígōng le chōngfèn de yījù.
- English: The data included in this report is truly comprehensive, providing a sufficient basis for our decision-making.
- Analysis: A more abstract and formal usage, referring to the completeness of information.
- Example 9:
- 小孩子的玩具箱里应有尽有,积木、玩偶、小汽车,堆得像一座小山。
- Pinyin: Xiǎo háizi de wánjù xiāng lǐ yīngyǒujìnyǒu, jīmù, wán'ǒu, xiǎo qìchē, duī de xiàng yī zuò xiǎoshān.
- English: The child's toy box has everything imaginable: building blocks, dolls, toy cars, all piled up like a small mountain.
- Analysis: A lighthearted, everyday use of the phrase.
- Example 10:
- (Slightly Sarcastic) 这次旅行遇到的麻烦真是应有尽有:丢了护照,误了航班,还生病了。
- Pinyin: Zhè cì lǚxíng yù dào de máfan zhēnshì yīngyǒujìnyǒu: diū le hùzhào, wù le hángbān, hái shēngbìng le.
- English: The troubles we encountered on this trip were truly all-encompassing: lost passports, missed flights, and getting sick.
- Analysis: This shows a less common, figurative, and ironic usage. The speaker is sarcastically remarking that they experienced every possible kind of trouble.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
- Don't use it to describe a person's abilities. You cannot say “他应有尽有 (tā yīngyǒujìnyǒu)” to mean “he is multi-talented.” Instead, you would describe the things he has or the skills he possesses. For skills, you might say “他多才多艺 (tā duō cái duō yì)”.
- It's about existing items, not future possibilities. 应有尽有 describes a complete set of things that are already present. It does not mean “anything is possible,” which would be expressed with a phrase like “一切皆有可能 (yīqiè jiē yǒu kěnéng).”
- Focus is on completeness, not necessarily quality. While often implying a good selection, the core meaning is about comprehensiveness and variety. A store could have an 应有尽有 selection of cheap junk. For high quality, you might pair it with another word, like “琳琅满目 (línlángmǎnmù)”.
Related Terms and Concepts
- 一应俱全 (yī yīng jù quán) - A very close synonym meaning “everything needed is provided” or “fully equipped.” Often used for facilities and amenities.
- 包罗万象 (bāoluó wànxiàng) - To encompass everything. This is more abstract and often used to describe the scope of a book, a philosophy, or a field of knowledge.
- 无所不有 (wú suǒ bù yǒu) - “There is nothing that it doesn't have.” Another strong synonym, almost identical in meaning to 应有尽有.
- 五花八门 (wǔ huā bā mén) - A wide variety of things. This term focuses more on the dazzling diversity and variety, sometimes with a slight implication of being unorganized or of mixed quality.
- 琳琅满目 (lín láng mǎn mù) - “A feast for the eyes.” Describes a dazzling array of beautiful objects, like gems, art, or luxury goods. It emphasizes beauty and visual appeal more than simple completeness.
- 齐全 (qíquán) - The simple, non-idiomatic adjective for “complete” or “all in readiness.” For example, “工具很齐全 (gōngjù hěn qíquán)” means “the tools are all here.” 应有尽有 is a more emphatic and descriptive upgrade.